Ergonomic container

ABSTRACT

A container has a side wall defining therein a hollow space, a bottom connected to the side wall, a top opposite the bottom, and a handle. The side wall has an exterior surface. The top connects to the side wall and has a dispensing orifice. The handle has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first end is connected to the exterior surface of the side wall. When the container is completely filled to form a filled container, the filled container has a center of gravity. A line drawn from the first end to the center of gravity and a line drawn from the second end to the center of gravity form therebetween a handle angle of from about 80° to about 150°.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/160,720 filed on Mar. 17, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ergonomic container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container having easy dispensing properties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many containers are created for containing and dispensing a pourable product such as a liquid and a granule. Some containers have a handle for lifting and holding the container.

Large containers may be heavy and difficult to operate. Generally, in order to dispense the product, the container needs to be lifted, carried to the ultimate dispensing point and tilted so that the products flow out. However, the handle may not be constructed to assist the user to easily grip and balance the container when it is full.

For example, many liquid detergent containers are provided on one side with a handle which is gripped by a hand. When the container is filled, it is sometimes hard to lift and hold the container upright due to its weight and the torque caused on the wrist. If a user fails to hold the container upright, the product inside the container may be mistakenly spilled. If a user finds it hard to control the tilt angle of the container, too much product may be dispensed, especially when people have reduced physical strength such as some aged persons. Container is too heavy to hold upright and/or with a large tilt angle may cause uncomfortable stress and/or torque to the wrist may, result in potential difficulties using the container.

In addition, where a container is stored at home and where it is used often varies. For example, some people store laundry detergents and/or fabric enhancers at a higher-than-waist-level location such as on the top of a shelf and/or above a washing machine. Other people store such containers at a lower position such as on the floor. When the container is taken off of a top shelf, a user may grip a relatively lower portion of the handle. When the container is taken off of the floor, a consumer may grip a relatively upper portion of the handle. In this way, the position where each user grips in the handle may vary. When a user grips the typical container in a position not perfectly centered on the handle, then this may also cause undesirable torque and stress on the hand and/or wrist. Therefore, the need exists for a container which reduces hand and/or wrist stress even if the container contains a large amount of or a heavy product inside. It is therefore desirable to provide a container having a handle designed to reduce hand stress when lifting and moving from various locations. It is desirable to provide a container with a more comfortable and ergonomic handle.

Accordingly, it is one of the objectives of the present invention to provide a container for providing improved ergonomic lifting, tilting and dispensing. More specifically, it is one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a container which requires reduced muscle force to lift, tilt and/or dispense. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container that has such a shape which gives lower approximated force on the wrist regardless of what portion of the handle is gripped. The inventors have surprisingly found that muscle force and wrist torque can be reduced by designing an ergonomic container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container for containing a pourable product. The container has a side wall defining therein a hollow space, a bottom connected to the side wall, a top opposite the bottom, and a handle. The side wall has an exterior surface. The top connects to the side wall and has a dispensing orifice. The handle has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first end is connected to the exterior surface of the side wall. When the container is completely filled to form a filled container, the filled container has a center of gravity. A line drawn from the first end to the center of gravity and a line drawn from the second end to the center of gravity form there between a handle angle of from about 80° to about 150°.

It has now surprisingly been discovered that the container of the present invention may be more easily utilized and operated. Further, the container provides for better gripping ability. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that compared to current containers, the container herein is easier to hold and use, and/or to hold the container herein stably and complete the dispensing actions even when the container is full and at its heaviest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the dispensing container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a dispensing container according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a handle's cross-section view as seen along Line 5-5′ in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a handle's cross-section;

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the dispensing container of Comparative Example I; and

FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the dispensing container of Comparative Example II.

The figures herein are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, “comprise” means that other elements and/or other steps which do not affect the end result can be added. This term encompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”. All temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius (° C.) unless otherwise indicated. All conditions herein, including testing conditions, are at 20° C., and atmospheric pressure unless otherwise specifically stated. Unless specifically stated, all ratios, percentages, etc. are by weight. Unless specifically stated, the ingredients and/or equipment herein are believed to be widely available from multiple worldwide suppliers/sources.

While the specification concludes with the claims particularly pointing and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description.

The present invention relates to a container for containing a pourable product. The container has a side wall defining therein a hollow space, a bottom connected to the side wall, a top opposite the bottom, and a handle. The side wall has an exterior surface. The top connects to the side wall and has a dispensing orifice. The handle has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first end is connected to the exterior surface of the side wall. When the container is completely filled to form a filled container, the filled container has a center of gravity. A line drawn from the first end to the center of gravity and a line drawn from the second end to the center of gravity form therebetween a handle angle of from about 80° to about 150°.

The container herein is a hollow or partially hollow vessel capable of holding a pourable product such as a liquid or a granule for an indefinite period of time. The container may be air and/or water-tight. The container may be self-standing and/or substantially rigid such as a free-standing container. The container can typically be opened and closed repeatedly; or, the container may be designed for a single use.

The present invention is more readily understood by the attached non-limiting drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container according to the invention. The container, 10, has a side wall, 12, defining therein a hollow space, 13. The side wall, 12, has an exterior surface, 14. The container, 10, has a bottom 16, connected to the side wall, 12. The bottom, 16, may be separately formed and then connected to the side wall, 12, or it may be integrally-formed with the side wall, 12. The container, 10, has a top, 18, opposite the bottom, 16. The top, 18, connects to the side wall, 12, and contains a dispensing orifice, 20. A pourable product can be poured out of the container, 10, via the orifice, 20. The container, 10, has a handle, 22, which is a portion of the container, 10, to be gripped by a user's hand. When sold, the container, 10, typically also has a cap, 21, removably-sealing the orifice, 20.

The container may be made of any material known in the art solid enough to stand an external force. Such materials include, but are not limited to, metals, woods, plastics, ceramics, and a combination thereof, or a plastic such as a thermoform plastic and/or a thermoset plastic. Useful plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, diethyleneglycol bisarylcarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene naphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyamide-based resin, styrene butadiene copolymers, acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, cellulose acetate butyrate, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-polypropylene, and a mixture thereof.

In an embodiment herein, a substantially transparent or translucent plastic having a light transmission of from about 60% to about 100%, or from about 70% to about 97%, or from about 80% to about 95%, may be used. Alternatively, the container may be opaque. In addition, the container material can possess wide range of colors and hues. The container may be produced by, for example, blow molding, injection molding, injection blow molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming, and combinations thereof. The various individual container portions may be formed with different materials, and/or by different processes, as desired.

In the front plan view of FIG. 2, a center of gravity (hereinafter referred to as COG), 28, is located on the side wall, 12. The COG is a specific point at which an object's mass behaves as if it were concentrated. The inventors recognize that the COG, 28, is in reality in the center of the 3D object, but herein, it is considered to be on the side wall, 12. Generally, the COG of a rigid object is fixed in a single point, but the COG of a container will change as the product level changes. So in the present invention, the container is first filled with water until it is full and then the COG is determined at a single point on the side wall, as viewed from the front plan view. The term “full” refers to when the container contains products to the top of the container's hollow space so that the container has no headspace (with any appropriate transition piece, but no cap connected thereto). For the purposes of determining the COG, container is filled with deionized water. For example, a full container may be prepared by sinking the container (including any attached transition piece, etc. but no cap) into a container of deionized water completely so that all the air inside the closed container is let out and replaced with deionized water. A water-tight cap is then affixed to the container so as to prevent any water from spilling out. In the measurements herein, the mass of the cap and any additional air/water associated therewith is considered negligible in the overall measurement. To determine the COG, the full container is hung at two points and a vertical line is drawn across the side wall from each point. The two vertical lines should cross at a single point, the COG, 28.

In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the handle, 22, has a first end, 24, and a second end, 26, opposite the first end, 24. The first end, 24, is connected to the exterior surface, 14, of the side wall, 12, and begins at the point where the exterior surface, 14, meets the handle, 22, closest to the dispensing orifice, 20, on the inner handle surface, 36. The second end, 26, also connects to the exterior surface, 14, of the side wall, 12. “The first end” and “the second end” of the handle relate to the opposing ends of a graspable region of the handle. “First end” and “second end” can be defined as follows; when a straight line is drawn from the COG, the intersections of the straight line and the tangential ends of the handle are the first end and the second end.

At a given weight the force on the wrist can vary depending on, for example, the design of the whole shape of the container, the size of the handle, the position of the handle, etc. In an embodiment herein, the distance from the COG to the handle ends hardly varies, leading to reduced wrist strain when the container is held, so that the muscle force on the wrist differs only a little regardless of the gripping position. Thus, it is believed that a user can hold the container from any position on the handle with a similar force. It has now been found that the relationship between the COG and the grip position influences the force/torque exerted on the wrist. As the grip position approaches the COG, the user can hold the container more easily and stably. This is especially important in cases such as some elderly people, whose wrist and/or hand muscles may be weaker than average. Accordingly, it has now been found that a container may be more ergonomic if the distance from the COG to the first end is less than or equal to about 75 mm, or from about 30 mm to about 75 mm, or from about 40 mm to about 65 mm. The distance from the COG to the inner handle midpoint may be less than or equal to about 80 mm, or from about 30 mm to about 80 mm, or from about 40 mm to about 75 mm. The distance from the COG to the second end may be less than or equal to about 100 mm, or from about 30 mm to about 95 mm, or from about 40 mm to about 90 mm.

The distance from the inner handle surface (the position to support the container) to the COG may be significant. In FIG. 2, in the holding posture of the container 10, as the distance from the COG, 28, to the inner handle surface, 36, is closer, the container, 10, can be held more stably. Table 1 shows the comparison among the container of the present invention (right) over containers distributed in Japanese market (left and center).

In FIG. 2, the side wall, 12, is offset from the inner handle surface, 36, by for example from about 2 cm to about 4 cm to form a handle void, 27. The handle, 22, is long enough to accommodate a typical consumer's hand width (from forefinger to little finger, inclusive). For example, the average hand width of a Japanese female (age 18-69) is ˜71 mm (Body Size Data, issued by Research Institute of Human Engineering for Quality Life, Japan). Therefore, a straight line between the first end, 24, and the second end, 26, may be from about 70 mm to about 150 mm, or from about 80 mm to about 120 mm. The handle, 22, has an inner handle midpoint, 30, half way between the first end, 24, and the second end, 26, as measured along the distance of the inner handle surface, 36. The circumference of the handle, 22, at the inner handle midpoint, 30, may be from about 5 cm to about 9 cm. A first end line, 23, connects the COG, 28, and the first end, 24, and a second end line, 25, connects the COG, 28, and the second end, 25. The first end line, 23, the COG, 28, and the second end line, 25, form a handle angle, α. For a given handle void, 27, length, as the handle angle, α, becomes larger, the grip position moves closer to the COG, 28. Consequently, the larger the handle angle, α, the more stably the container, 10, can be held. The handle angle, α may be from about 80° to about 150°, or from about 85° to about 120°, or from about 85° to about 100°. The handle angle, α of the container, 10, in FIG. 2 is about 86°.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment, wherein a first tilt line, 32, is a vertical line perpendicular (90°) to a horizontal plane, 40, defined as being parallel to the ground. The first tile line, 32, also goes through the COG, 28. A second tilt line, 34, connects the COG, 28, and the inner handle midpoint, 30. The inner handle midpoint, 30, is considered to be the average position at which the container, 10, is supported when gripped by a user. The first tilt line, 32, the COG, 28, and the second tilt line, 34, form a tilt angle, β. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the greater the tilt angle, β, the greater the burden a wrist receives when the container, 10, is held upright, because the more the tilt angle, the more torque is exerted on the wrist joint of the user's hand. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that locating the handle close to the COG, 28, and closer to the top, 18, of the container provides an optimum mechanical advantage resulting in a tilt angle, β, from about 5° to about 65°, or from about 10° to about 60°, or from about 20° to about 55°, while allowing ergonomic dispensing. Thus, the container may provide easy lifting, holding and/or product dispensing.

Generally, when a handle is positioned on a side of the container and when the container is held, as the tilt angle, β, shrinks, the container requires less wrist and/or arm force to return the container back to an upright position. Furthermore, with a large tilt angle, the products contained in the container may be mistakenly spilt out of the top when the container is tilted due to its weight or due to reduced physical strength of a user.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of FIG. 2 and shows that a first end distance, f, which is the distance from the first end, 24, to the COG, 28, along the first end line, 23, a midpoint distance, m, which is the distance from the inner handle midpoint, 30, to the COG, 28, along the midpoint line, 34, and a second end distance, s, which is the distance from the second end, 26, to the COG, 28, along the second end line, 25. In an embodiment herein, the minimum distance among the first end distance, f, the midpoint distance, m, and the second end distance, s, may be less than or equal to about 75 mm, or from about 10 mm to about 75 mm, or from about 15 mm to about 72 mm. The maximum distance among the first end distance, f, the midpoint distance, m, and the second end distance, s, is ≦125% of the minimum distance. In one embodiment, there is a minimum distance≦about 75 mm among the first end distance, f, the midpoint distance, m, and the second end distance, s. There is also maximum distance among the first end distance, f, the midpoint distance, m, and the second end distance, s, and the maximum distance is from about 100% to about 125%, or from about 100% to about 120%, or from about 100% to about 115% of the minimum distance.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the container, 10, of the present invention. The handle, 22, protrudes from the exterior surface 14, of the side wall, 12, at the first end 24. The second end, 26, is a free end and does not connect to the exterior surface, 14, and therefore the handle void, 27, is open. As seen previously, the first end line, 23, is defined by the COG, 28, and the first end, 24, while the second end line, 25, is defined by the COG, 28, and the second end, 26. The handle, 22, may have a frictional surface, 42, to further prevent slipping and help the consumer grip the handle grip stably. The frictional surface may include one or more of embossment, undulation, regular texture, irregular texture, and the like. The frictional surface may be integrally-formed or separately-formed with the container. The frictional surface, 42, may contain a soft material selected from the group consisting of rubber, flexible polymeric film, paper and a mixture thereof. The soft material may coat substantially the whole circumference of the handle, or only a part thereof such as the inner handle surface, 36.

FIG. 5 is a handle's cross-section view as seen along Line 5-5′ in FIG. 2 where the handle's cross-section is oval. The shape of the handle should fit a hand and be comfortable to hold in the end, and therefore cross-section may include, but is not limited to, a circle, and/or an oval. The circumference of the handle may be designed so that the circumference accords with the average hand size of Japanese women whose age ranges from 20 to 60 years old. The circumference at the handle midpoint may be from about 50 to about 100 mm, or from about 60 mm to about 90 mm. The circumference may be from about 50 mm to about 100 mm at the inner handle midpoint, or from about 60 mm to about 90 mm.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment wherein the handle's cross-section is circular.

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of Comparative Example I, a container, 110, distributed in Japan market. The container, 110, has a COG, 128, is located on the side wall, 112. It can be seen that the handle, 122, has a first end, 124, and a second end, 126, opposite the first end, 124. The first end, 124, connects the exterior surface, 114, where it meets the handle, 122, on the inner handle surface, 136, closest to the dispensing orifice, 120. The second end, 126, also connects to the exterior surface, 114. The first end line, 123, the COG, 128, and the second end line, 125, form a handle angle, α₁ of 70°. The first tilt line, 132, is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, 140, and goes through the COG, 128. The second tilt line, 134, connects the COG, 128, and the inner handle midpoint, 130. The first tilt line, 132, and the second tilt line, 134, form a tilt angle, β₁ of 84°.

Similarly, FIG. 8 is a front plan view of Comparative Example II, a container, 210, distributed in Japan market. The container, 210, has a COG, 228, is located on the side wall, 212. It can be seen that the handle, 222, has a first end, 224, and a second end, 226, opposite the first end, 224. The first end, 224, connects the exterior surface, 214, where it meets the handle, 222, on the inner handle surface, 236, closest to the dispensing orifice, 220. The second end, 226, also connects to the exterior surface, 214. The first end line, 223, the COG, 228, and the second end line, 225, form a handle angle, α₂ of 79°. The first tilt line, 232, is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, 240, and goes through the COG, 228. The second tilt line, 234, connects the COG, 228, and the inner handle midpoint, 230. The first tilt line, 232, and the second tilt line, 234, form a tilt angle, β₂ of 69°.

The hollow space's volume is typically from about 100 ml to about 3000 ml, from about 600 ml to about 1500 ml, or from about 700 ml to about 1200 ml. The product to be filled in the container herein is typically a fabric care product (e.g., a fabric detergent, a fabric enhancer, a bleach, etc.), a dish detergent, a hard surface cleaner, a beverage, a food, a drug, a research reagent, a research solvent, etc, or a fabric care product. The product form to be filled in the container herein may include, but not limited to, a granule, a gel, a liquid, etc.

In an embodiment herein, when the handle is gripped with adjacent fingers contacting each other; there is defined a first end muscle force which is the muscle force when the handle is gripped so that the forefinger contacts the first end; a second end muscle force which is the muscle force when the handle is gripped so that the little finger contacts the second end and the midpoint muscle force which is the muscle force when the handle is gripped so that the inner handle midpoint is half way between the forefinger and the little finger. In such a case the first end muscle force, the second end muscle force, and the midpoint muscle force may each be ≦about 0.50 mV/kg, or from about 0.001 mV/kg to about 0.45 mV/kg, or from about 0.05 mV/kg to about 0.40 mV/kg.

In one embodiment, when the handle is gripped by a hand with its adjacent fingers contacted to each other; the ratio of first end muscle force vs. the second end muscle force is from about 5:4 to about 4:5. Such a container may be easier to hold regardless of the grip position on the handle.

The optional cap, 21, may be detachably attached to the top of the container. The cap may be attached to the top of the container or transition piece, if present with a screwing closing device. The cap may be a dispensing cap as is known in the art, and/or may be a flip-top cap.

Test Methods

Muscle force was examined according to the following method. A clean, dry container was filled with water by sinking it into a water bath completely to replace the air with water. Then the container was removed from the water and the container was wiped with a towel, and the cap was screwed on to seal it. The panelists held the handle of the container, and then lifted it with the wrist kept unbent. The muscle force was measured on the wrist. Muscular sensor “Universal-EMG” (lot#: EMG-U04-03A-0013, supplied by Oisaka Development Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan; http://www.oisaka.co.jp/index.html) was used.

In order to evaluate the influence on the force on the wrist, a muscle force was measured based on electromyography (EMG) that measures slight electric signals when muscles contract. An electrocardiogram that observes heart behavior is a type of EMG which measures the electric signal observed when heart muscles move. The EMG magnitude is directly related to how actively the muscle moves. EMG is utilized as index of exercise or workload in the field of sports, welfare and human engineering. The muscle force reflects the force on the wrist when a user lifts and holds the container. A higher muscle force value means that the wrist receives more force when a user lifts and holds the container. A lower muscle force value means that the container exerts less force when a user lifts and holds the container.

Electric cords with sensors and grounds were connected to muscular sensor. The muscular sensor was connected to a computer. The ground was put onto the bone area on the arm (an elbow). The sensor was put onto the arm, to bridge the same muscle. The containers were put on a table whose height is 89 cm above the floor and located so that the handle faced perpendicular to the panelists. Each panelist reached their arms to grip the handles. The panelists gripped three positions of the handles (i.e., upper, middle, and lower) to measure the difference of COG at each position (n=3, each 3 times repetition was conducted at each position of handle). The panelists gripped and lifted up the containers to their chest position, and paused for three (3) seconds. The panelists lifted down the container to the original position. A muscular signal was measured during the action from the condition before gripping the containers till the condition of lifting the container. This signal was amplified and converted via “Universal EMG”. The installed software (Universal EMG) analyzed with the graph of wave.

EXAMPLES

Three types of containers indicated as (i) the container of the present invention which was made in a test mold, while (ii) the container of Comparative Example I (Kao Attack Biogel; FIG. 7) and (iii) the container of Comparative Example II (Lion Scent-lasting Liquid Top; FIG. 8) were purchased. The three types of containers are all made of opaque plastic. They have the similar handles and dispensing caps on the top.

TABLE 1 Distance from the handle to the COG of the containers Comparative Comparative Example I Example II Present invention (Unit: mm) of FIG. 7 of FIG. 8 of FIG. 2 First end distance, f 74 77 72 Midpoint distance, m 86 85 76 Second end distance, s 100 95 88 % difference between (100 − 74)/ (95 − 77)/ (88 − 72)/ minimum and maximum 74 = 35% 77 = 23% 72 = 22% distances Wrist muscle force when 0.74 0.41 0.28 held at the first end Wrist muscle force when 0.64 0.83 0.38 held at the second end Wrist muscle force when 0.65 0.40 0.35 held at the midpoint

As shown in Table 1, the Comparative Examples I and II have either a larger difference in the distance from the COG to the handle, or a % difference between the minimum distance and maximum distances of more than 25%. In contrast, the container of the present invention has a minimum distance of less than 75 mm and a % difference between the minimum distance and the maximum distance of less than 25%. In general, as the distance from the COG to the handle increases, the burden on the wrist increases. Therefore, the container of the present invention provides reduced wrist strain and easier usability.

The muscle force on the wrist (described hereafter) may depend on the distance from the COG, 28, to the inner handle surface, 36. The container, 10, provides the smaller distance from the COG, 28, to the handle, 22, than the containers currently available in the Japanese market (see Comparative Examples I (FIG. 6) and II (FIG. 7).

The container of the present invention is as depicted in FIG. 2. Comparative example I is available in the Japanese market as Attack Bio Gel (manufactured by Kao Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Comparative example II is also available in the Japanese market as Scent-lasting Liquid Top (Kaori-Tsuzuku-Top, manufactured by Lion Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The container of the present invention contains 0.9 kg liquid laundry detergent, while the comparative examples I and II each contain 1.0 kg liquid laundry detergent. Sixty (60) Japanese female panelists whose height ranges from 150 cm to 160 cm, used and held each of the containers separately. The panelists used and dosed them according to their usual ways.

It was observed that some panelists picked up the containers from the storage place and held the container with one hand while completing the dosing action with the other hand. Some panelists opened the cap, poured the liquid detergent into the dispensing cap, dosed the liquid detergent, put the dispensing cap back to the container and closed the cap, and then put the container back to the storage place. Some panelists opened the cap, dosed the liquid detergent directly without using the dispensing cap, put the dispensing cap back to the container and closed the cap, and then put the container back to the storage place. The liquid detergent can be dosed into a receiving cap equipped with a washing machine, or dosed into a washing basin of a washing machine.

Table 2 shows weights of full containers and muscular force results with full volume of water in the containers (the maximum muscle force minus the minimum muscle force during the action). The values show the average of three replications.

TABLE 2 Weight and Muscle force on the wrist (standardized by the weight) Container of the Comparative Comparative present invention of Example I Example II FIG. 2 Weight (kg) 1.264 1.392 1.154 Muscle force (mV/kg) (i) Upper position 0.74 0.41 0.28 (held at the first end) (ii) Middle position 0.65 0.40 0.35 (held at the midpoint) (iii) Lower position 0.64 0.83 0.38 (held at the second end)

The result shows that the container of the present invention provides significantly less muscle forces than any other container of comparative examples at upper, middle and lower positions of handle, even when normalized for the differences in weight.

TABLE 3 Container tilt angles β₁ (Comparative β₂ (Comparative β (Container of the Example I Example II present invention of of FIG. 7) of FIG. 8) FIG. 2) Tilt angle 84° 69° 49°

As seen, the tilt angle, β, of the container of the present invention is the smallest of these three containers. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that a smaller tilt angle reduces the muscle force on the wrist because it requires less force to bring to the upright position. Since a user tends to put the container to the upright position after dispensing the product contained, a smaller tilt angle can reduce hand and/or wrist strain.

The container of the present invention showed a significant difference vs. the comparative examples. Without intending to be limited by theory it is believed that the significant ergonomic benefits may result from the short distance from the COG to the handle. Thus, it was observed that the container herein requires the least force to hold and lift over the other two containers available in the Japanese market.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purpose only and that various modifications or changes will be suggested to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A container for containing a pourable product, the container comprising: A. a side wall defining therein a hollow space, the side wall having an exterior surface; B. a bottom connected to the side wall; C. a top opposite the bottom, the top connected to the side wall, the top comprising a dispensing orifice; and D. a handle comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end connected to the exterior surface of the side wall, wherein when the container is completely filled to form a filled container, the filled container has a center of gravity, wherein a line drawn from the first end to the center of gravity and a line from the second end to the center of gravity form a handle angle of from about 80° to about 150°.
 2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the handle angle is from about 85° to about 120°.
 3. The container according to claim 1, the handle having an inner handle midpoint half way between the first end and the second end, wherein a tilt angle is formed by a first tilt line perpendicular to a plane formed by the bottom extending toward the top from the center of gravity and a second tilt line connecting the inner handle midpoint and the center of gravity, wherein the tilt angle is from about 5° to about 65°.
 4. The container according to claim 3 wherein the tilt angle is from about 10° to about 55°.
 5. The container according to claim 1, the handle comprising an inner handle surface extending from the first end to the second end, the inner handle surface proximal to the exterior surface of the container, wherein there is defined (i) a first end distance; (ii) a midpoint distance; and (iii) a second end distance, wherein there is a minimum distance among the first end distance, the midpoint distance, and the second end distance, and wherein the minimum distance is less than or equal to about 75 mm, and wherein there is a maximum distance among the first end distance, the midpoint distance, and the second end distance, and wherein the maximum distance is from about 100% to about 125% of the minimum distance.
 6. The container according to claim 1, the handle having an inner handle midpoint half way between the first end and the second end, wherein a cross-section of the handle taken by a line connecting the center of gravity and the inner handle midpoint has a circumference of from about 60 mm to about 90 mm.
 7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the handle comprises a cross-section shape selected from the group consisting of a circle and an oval.
 8. The container according to claim 1, the handle having an inner handle midpoint half way between the first end and the second end, wherein when the handle is gripped with adjacent fingers contacting each other; wherein there is defined (1) a first end muscle force; (2) a second end muscle force; and (3) a midpoint muscle force, wherein the first end muscle force, the second end muscle force and the midpoint muscle force are each ≦about 0.50 mV/kg.
 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein difference between the first end muscle force and the second end muscle force is less than about 25%.
 10. The container according to claim 1, wherein a straight distance between the first end and the second end is from about 80 mm to about 120 mm.
 11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a frictional surface.
 12. The container according to claim 1, the handle having an inner handle surface, wherein the inner handle surface further comprises a soft material selected from the group consisting of a rubber, a flexible polymeric film, a paper and a mixture thereof.
 13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second end connects to the exterior surface.
 14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the handle protrudes from the external surface at the first end and wherein the second end is a free end. 